Sirag Kalfayan

Sirag (Si) Dickran Kalfayan was born on October 24, 1926 in Moskhaton (Moschato), Greece to Aristakes Kalfayan and Kaghtsrig (Der Nersesian) Kalfayan. Sirag passed away in Visalia on Saturday, April 8, 2017. Sirag and his older sister Araxie (Menendian), spent their early years in Greece where his father (ordained in their church as Der Garabed Kalfayan) served as principal of the local Armenian school. In 1939, sponsored by his father’s former students, the family moved to Yettem, California where Der Garabed became the parish Priest of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church for more than30 years. Si attended the local Yettem Elementary school, mastered his English skills, and moved on to attend Visalia High School. Following his graduation, Si enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduating from its Machinist School at Chanute Field, Illinois in 1945. Si spent the next few years attending San Francisco State University, after which he moved back to Yettem where he met and married Anna Der Hagopian in 1950, with his father officiating as the presiding priest. Anna and Sirag were married until her passing in October of 2016. Si and Anna had two children, John, born in 1954, and Garo in 1956. Soon after his marriage, Si started working in the car business in Dinuba with Sam Kutumian and George Zarounian. Si eventually started his own car business, Si’s Quality Automobiles in Visalia. Si’s son, John, joined in the business which they operated for over 30 years until Si’s retirement in 2015. Si devoted his life to his family, his career in the car business, and to his faith. Si served on the altar alongside his father for many years, eventually being ordained as a Deacon and becoming a mentor for many of the young Deacons in the Church. Si was known to all as having a larger than life personality and an incredible zest for living. In his later years, Si truly enjoyed his life as a grandpa loving all of his 5 grandchildren and traveling to see their sporting events. Si was a mainstay in the Sequoia Chapter of the Triple XXX Fraternity in Visalia for over 50 years. Their outings and the opportunity to be with many of his Armenian friends at their meetings were truly highlights in his life. Si is survived by his son John and daughter-in-law Sandy (Nelson), grand children Kevin and Devin; son Garo and his wife Nancy (Hacker), grandsons Aris, and his wife Emily, Zaven, and Sarkis. He is also survived by nieces Mari Louise Menendian and Laurie Menendian (Marrs) and her husband Fred; nephew David Menendian, his wife Ardemis, their children Armen Menendian and Ani Menendian (Esraelian) and her husband Jordan; niece Kathy Bazarian, her husband Harold, their children Julie and Jacqueline, and niece Sandy Gonzalez, her husband Desi, and their children Gregory and Gary. Services for Sirag will be held at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, Yettem, California on Wednesday April 19, 2017 at 10 a.m. Remembrances may be made to St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, P.O. Box 367, Yettem, CA 93670, or to the donor’s favorite charity. A memorial tribute may be made by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Sirag Kalfayan

June 5, 1927 - April 8, 2017